USL Memphis Branding to be Unveiled September 1

Branding for a USL Memphis squad will be unveiled September 1, when the club’s AutoZone Park hosts an exhibition between MLS’s Colorado Rapids and Tulsa Roughnecks FC (USL).

As officially announced earlier this year, a new Memphis club will begin play in the Division II circuit next year as an expansion team. It will share will share AutoZone Park with baseball’s Memphis Redbirds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), and the USL Memphis club’s ownership group will be led by Principal Owner Peter Freund and President Craig Unger. Freund and Unger also serve in those roles for the Redbirds.

Planning for the club has been underway, and it has now been revealed that its branding will be officially unveiled on September 1.

Among the highlights of the September 1 exhibition will be the presence of the Colorado Rapids’ Tim Howard. Howard, a Memphis resident and USL Memphis advisor since its unveiling in January, is one of the most decorated American soccer players in history. The legendary goalkeeper has represented the United States Men’s National Team in every year since 2002 and, during that time, has amassed 115 caps.

He was ever-present for his country during the 2014 World Cup and created a record for the most saves in a tournament game with 16 stops against Belgium in the Knockout Round. He has also represented the U.S. in the World Cups of 2006 and 2010.

Howard joined the Colorado Rapids in 2016 after playing in the English Premier League from when he joined Manchester United in 2003 until May of 2016.

Colorado Rapids was founded in 1995 and won the MLS Cup in 2010. Tulsa Roughnecks FC, a future league foe of USL Memphis starting next season, was founded in 2013 and began play in the USL in 2015. According to an announcement from Memphis, the game will represent the first professional outdoor soccer match in Memphis since 1980.